Feb. 29, 2004
Results
Lincoln, Neb. - The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team competed against three of the best teams in the nation Sunday afternoon at the prestigious Master's Classic in front of 2,040 fans at the Bob Devaney Center. The Illini posted a score of 194.025 to take fourth place. No. 7 Nebraska won the Classic for the 11th year in a row with a score of 196.525. No. 5 Florida led going into the final rotation, but finished second with a score of 196.350. No. 26 Arizona State was third with a 195.625. It was Nebraska's 53rd consecutive home win dating back to the 1993 Master's Classic. The fourth place finish dropped No. 34 Illinois to 7-6 on the season.
UI Head Coach Bob Starkell said the Illini need to be more confident in their skills, especially late in the season. "I thought our girls fought and did a good job of staying focused today," Starkell said. "We need to pay more attention to being confident, no matter what the situation is, or no matter where we're at. We were conservative on the first event (uneven bars), if we come out and are confident, our skills will flow a lot easier."
"With the crowd and the atmosphere, this really feels more like a championship meet," continued Starkell. "Hopefully we can use this as a learning experience because this is what it will be like at Big Tens and NCAAs at the end of the season."
The Illini started off on the uneven bars and, although they had no major mistakes, struggled to a score of 48.625. Cara Pomeroy led the way with a 9.850, which tied for 5th place overall and was Illinois' highest place-winner on the day. Also counting towards Illinois' total were Kara Kapernekas (9.775), Lauren Newcomb (9.700), Ashley Williams (9.675) and Jessica Cole (9.625). The Illini did not count Danye Botterman's 9.575.
On the second rotation Illinois moved to the balance beam, where they would post a score of 48.575. Williams led the way for the Orange and Blue with a 9.825 to take eighth place, while Pomeroy (9.800), Katie Wild (9.800) and Kapernekas (9.750) also turned in solid performances. Margaret Dann was shaky on the apparatus, but her 9.400 contributed to the team score after Newcomb fell during her performance (9.300).
The Illini posted their highest score of the afternoon (49.050) on the floor exercise during rotation three. Newcomb and Wild each scored 9.825 to lead the Illini. Botterman, Sara Dumich and Williams each carded 9.800s, Williams doing so despite her music stopping halfway through her routine. Kapernekas' score of 9.775 was thrown out.
On the final rotation, the Illini had to count their first fall of the afternoon and struggled to a score of 47.775. Williams led the way with a 9.725. Botterman earned a 9.675, Cole 9.600 and Singer 9.550. Kapernekas (9.225) and Kim Kirzow both fell (9.200) for the Illini.
Ashley Williams carded an all-around score of 39.025 to take fifth place, while Kapernekas' all-around total of 38.525 was good for ninth place. Nebraska's Tammi Harris and ASU's Ashley Kelly tied for the all-around crown, each scored a 39.550.
"Ashley Williams had another really good meet," said Starkell of his junior co-captain. "She opened a little shaky on bars, but it could have been a whole lot worse than it was. She really fought and got better as the day went on. She finished up with probably one of her best vaults."
Despite tough judging, the Fighting Illini's total of 194.025 was their second-highest road score of the season, which will help boost their Regional Qualifying Score (RQS). Illinois' RQS will jump from 194.385 to 194.585, as today's score bumps a 193.025 from their average. RQS is computed by taking a team's top six scores, a minimum of three on the road, throws out the high and averages the other five. Entering this weekend, Illinois would have been one of the 36 teams invited to NCAA Regionals in April.
Up Next: This Friday, March 5, the Illini will travel to Auburn, Alabama to take on the #18 Tigers at 7 p.m.
